Pore Mosulishvili

Member of resistance in Italy

In Stresa he managed to contact with partisans of the 118th Garibaldian Brigade "Remo Servadei" and in September 7, 1944 made contact with another 36 Soviet-Georgian prisoners who fought along with the Italian resistance. The Georgians formed the 2nd battalion of the 118th partisan brigade and quickly gained a reputation for their toughness. From October 9 to October 14 they took part in the defence of the republican partisan of Ossola.^[2] In October 26, 1944 2nd Battalion led a fight against a train and killed 23 supporters of the Fascist Republic of Salo.^[3]

In November, 1944 the Fascists decided to unleash a violent counter-offensive in the area of the Mottarone-Vergante, in low Verbano, operative sector of the Brigade Servadei. This caused the partisans to separate into small groups, in an attempt to avoid reprisals.

Death

In December 3, 1944, Pore Mosulishvili, together with sixteen partisans, were surrounded by German forces. Nazis stated that if the commander surrendered, the others would be spared, otherwise everyone would be killed. The commander of group, named Edo del Gratta, didn't react. Mosulishvili, already wounded, told comrades to disarm and discard their weapons, exited the hut and told Germans: I am the Commander, but I prefer death to captivity! Then he shouted: Viva l'Italia! Viva i partigiani! Viva liberta! ("Long live to Italy! Live the partisans! Living freedom!"), put revolver to his throat and pulled the trigger. Although his comrades were subsequently taken prisoners, his self–sacrifice enabled to save their lives, as they were few months later, in April 1945, liberated by other partisan detachments.

Pore Mosulishvili is buried in town Arona.

Places named after Pore Mosulishvili

•  Italy Museo Baita della Libertà (Belgirate))^[4]
•  Italy Via P. Musolishvili - 28832 Belgirate (Vb)
•  Georgia Pore Mosulishvili House Museum
•  Georgia Pore Mosulishvili street in Tbilisi^[5]